Cap with integrated glove

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a cap configured for catching a ball are disclosed. The cap comprises a brim affixed to a concave crown, and a glove portion affixed or integrated into the crown, wherein the glove portion comprises at least one opening proximate a wearer&#39;s ear for entry and accommodation of the wearer&#39;s hand. Certain embodiments of the cap further comprise an extension portion of the crown configured to unfold or extend to facilitate catching a ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a hat or cap, and more particularlyto a cap configured for catching a ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

Baseball caps are worn by spectators at baseball games to shield theuser from the sun and show support for a favorite team. Some of thesespectators also bring baseball gloves to a game with the hope ofcatching a baseball hit into the stands. However, baseball gloves arebulky and cumbersome to wear when not in use, and once removed may notbe easy to locate and assume in time to catch a quickly approachingball. Thus, a baseball cap adapted for catching a ball would be usefulfor such a spectator, where the cap remains easily accessible during thegame on the wearer's head.

Baseball caps for catching a ball are known in the art with variouslocations or entry points for a wearer's catching hand. However, thecaps currently in the art do not allow for convenient and optimal handentry or positioning for assuming the cap on a wearer's hand to catch aball. Thus, an improved baseball cap configured for catching a ball isneeded in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention include a cap/glove combination, comprisinga concave crown having an exterior surface, and a glove portion on thecrown. The crown may have a top, a bottom, a front portion, a backportion, and two lateral portions. The glove portion comprises materialaffixed to the exterior surface of one of the lateral portions of thecrown and forming at least one opening proximate a wearer's ear forentry and accommodation of a hand, where the glove portion extends fromthe opening over the lateral portion of the crown towards the top of thecrown.

In some embodiments, the at least one opening comprises a hand entryopening for entry of a hand, and finger exit openings for exit of thedistal ends of fingers, where the hand entry opening faces toward thebottom of the lateral portion of the crown. In some embodiments, thehand entry opening is substantially larger than each of the finger exitopenings. The cap/glove combination may further comprise padding on aninterior surface of the crown proximate the glove portion, and the gloveportion may comprise a stretchable material, for example.

In certain embodiments, the crown further comprises an extension portionof material proximate a thumb accommodating portion of the gloveportion, wherein the extension portion of material is extended byengagement of the thumb accommodating portion. In some embodiments, theextension portion may be folded in an unextended state when the gloveportion is not engaged by a hand. The cap/glove combination may alsocomprise an affixing mechanism attached to the extension portion tomaintain the extension portion in an unextended state when the affixingmechanism is engaged, and the affixing mechanism may comprise a hook andloop fastener such as VELCRO, for example.

In some embodiments, the glove portion comprises a semi-rigid materialproximate the hand entry opening and configured to maintain the openingin a substantially open state. The cap/glove combination may furthercomprise an additional glove portion opposite the first glove portionand proximate a wearer's ear on the crown, comprising material affixedto the crown and forming at least one opening for entry andaccommodation of a hand. In certain embodiments, the cap/glovecombination further comprises a brim fixed to the crown and extendingfrom the front portion of the crown.

In yet another embodiment, a cap configured to accommodate a wearer'shand to facilitate catching a ball comprises a concave crown comprisingan exterior surface, and at least one hand accommodating portioncomprising one or more materials fixed to the exterior surface of thecrown proximate a wearer's ear. The crown may have a top, a bottom, afront portion, a back portion, and two lateral portions. In someembodiments, the at least one hand accommodating portion comprises ahand entry opening for entry of a hand, and finger exit openings forexit of the distal ends of one or more fingers, where the hand entryopening faces toward the bottom of the lateral portion of the crown. Insome embodiments, the hand entry opening is substantially larger thanthe finger exit openings. In some embodiments, the hand accommodatingportion permits entry of a wearer's hand moving over the lateral portionof the crown from the bottom of the lateral portion toward the top ofthe crown.

The cap may further comprise padding on an interior surface of the crownproximate the hand accommodating portion, and the hand accommodatingportion may comprise a semi-rigid material proximate a hand entryopening so as to maintain the opening in a substantially open state.

In some embodiments, the crown further comprises an extension portion ofmaterial proximate a thumb accommodating portion of the handaccommodating portion, wherein the extension portion of material isextended by engagement of the thumb accommodating portion. The extensionportion may be folded in an unextended state when the glove portion isnot engaged by a hand, and the cap may further comprise an affixingmechanism attached to said extension portion to maintain said extensionportion in an unextended state when said affixing mechanism is engaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cap configured tofacilitate catching a ball.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1 on a wearer's head andwith a glove portion engaged by the wearer's hand.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 2, illustrating theinterior of the cap with padding.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cap configured tofacilitate catching a ball and including an extension portion folded inan unextended state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap of FIG. 4 with the extensionportion in an extended state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying Figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elementsthroughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein isnot intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner,simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detaileddescription of certain specific embodiments of the invention.Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may include several novelfeatures, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirableattributes or which is essential to practicing the inventions hereindescribed.

One embodiment of a cap 10 configured for catching a ball is illustratedin FIG. 1, wherein the cap 10 comprises a semi-rigid brim or visor 12affixed to a concave crown 14. The crown 14 may comprise a plurality ofpanels 16 assembled to form a desirable shape for a wearer's head. Thecap 10 further comprises a glove or hand accommodating portion 18affixed or integrated into the crown 14, wherein the glove portion 18comprises at least one opening 20 proximate a wearer's ear for entry andaccommodation of the wearer's hand. In one embodiment, the glove portioncomprises one or more materials affixed to an exterior surface 22 of thecrown 14 and forming the opening 20.

In one embodiment, the glove portion 18 comprises a semi-rigid materialproximate the hand entry opening 20 and configured to maintain the gloveportion 18 in a substantially open state for ease of entry of a hand.For example, the glove portion 18 may include a plastic portion 24attached to or integrated into the glove portion 18 proximate the handentry opening 20, wherein the plastic portion 24 has a semi-circularshape so as to maintain the opening 20 in a substantially open state forentry of a hand.

In some embodiments, the glove portion 18 comprises a unitary glovestructure configured to accommodate a wearer's hand independent of theexterior surface 22 of the crown 14. Such a glove portion 18 may beaffixed to the exterior surface 22 of the crown 14 by any suitablemeans, such as sewing, gluing, snaps, buttons, or rivets.

In one embodiment, the glove portion 18 comprises one or more pieces ofmaterial configured to accommodate a wearer's hand in conjunction withthe exterior surface 22 of the crown 14. The one or more pieces ofmaterial may be affixed to the exterior surface 22 of the crown 14 bysewing or gluing, for example, or by an affixing mechanism, such assnaps, buttons, or rivets. As will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art, there are a plurality of methods and means for affixing theglove portion to the crown and the invention is not limited to thoselisted herein.

In certain embodiments, the cap 10 comprises two glove portions, whereina first glove portion is affixed to the crown 14 proximate a wearer'sfirst ear, and a second glove portion is affixed to the crown proximatea wearer's second ear. Thus, a wearer can insert either their left orright hand into a glove portion, and such a cap can be used by aleft-handed or right-handed person. In still other embodiments, theglove portion 18 may be removable from a first location on the crown 14proximate a wearer's first ear, and affixable to a second location onthe crown 14 proximate a wearer's second ear. Furthermore, the locationof the glove portion, or elements thereof, such as finger accommodatingportions, may be adjustable.

In certain embodiments, the glove portion 18 comprises the hand entryopening 20 for entry of a hand, and finger exit openings 21 a-e for exitof the distal ends of fingers. The accommodation of a wearer's hand bythe glove portion 18 is illustrated in the perspective illustration ofFIG. 2, wherein the glove portion 18 is engaged by a wearer's hand 50proximate the wearer's ear 51. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the distal ends52 a-e of the wearer's hand exit the glove portion 18 at finger exitopenings 21 a-e such that they are not constricted by the glove portion18. Thereby, a cap with a single size or limited adjustment can be usedby a plurality of individuals with different sized hands withoutconstriction.

Alternately, the glove portion 18 may comprise material foraccommodating substantially the entirety of one or more of a wearer'sfingers. The glove portion 18 may comprise a stretchable material, or acombination of materials having different stretching capacities, and mayinclude, for example, a mesh material or a spandex material such asLYCRA. In some embodiments, the glove portion 18 comprises an adjustmentmechanism, such as two pieces of material configured to be latched,coupled, tied, or fastened together at different lengths. For example,the adjustment mechanism may comprise two pieces of material configuredwith an affixing mechanism such as a hook and loop fastener, such asVELCRO. The glove portion 18 may also comprise openings to allow forease of movement or accommodation of different sized hands, such as oneor more opening proximate a wearer's knuckles.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cap 10 with the glove portion 18engaged by a wearer's hand 50. As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG.3, the cap 10 comprises padding 60 affixed or integrated into aninterior surface 62 of the crown 14 proximate the glove portion 18(indicated by the wearer's hand 50 but not shown in FIG. 3). The padding60 may comprise one or more pieces of material affixed or integratedinto one or more of the panels 16 shown in FIG. 1, or the padding 60 maybe affixed across a plurality of panels or the interior surface 62 ofthe crown 14. The padding 60 may comprise one or more materials,including multiple layers of materials such as foam. The padding 60 mayhave a geometry corresponding to one or more of the panels 16 of thecrown 14, a semi-circular geometry, or other geometries appropriate forprotecting a wearer's hand from the impact experienced when catching aball.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the cap 10 wherein thecrown 14 further comprises an extension panel or portion 70 proximate athumb accommodating portion 72 of the glove portion 18. The extensionportion 70 comprises a piece of material folded (dashed line 73) in anunextended state as shown in FIG. 4, and may be maintained in theunextended state by an affixing mechanism 74. In one embodiment, theaffixing mechanism 74 comprises a hook and loop fastener such as VELCROattached to the folded area of the extension portion 70. The affixingmechanism 74 may comprise other affixing means, such as snaps orbuttons. In one embodiment, the affixing mechanism 74 comprises one ormore elastic pieces configured to retain the extension portion 70 in anunextended state when the one or more elastic pieces are in a resting orunstretched state.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the extension portion 70 provides additionalcircumference and surface area to the crown 14 in an unfolded orextended state for catching a ball. In one embodiment, the extensionportion 70 is extended by engagement of a thumb accommodating portion 72of the glove portion 18 by a wearer's hand. In such an embodiment, thethumb accommodating portion 72 may comprise material for accommodatingsubstantially the entire length of a wearer's thumb so as to furtherfacilitate extension or unfolding of the extension portion 70. Theextension portion 70 may comprise the same or similar material as thecrown 14, or the extension portion 70 may comprise a thinner materialthan that of the crown 14 so as to reduce bulkiness when the extensionportion 70 is in a folded or unextended state. In one embodiment, theextension portion 70 comprises a stretchable or resilient material, suchas a mesh material, so as to further facilitate catching a ball.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the invention is notlimited to the specific configuration of the cap described above orillustrated in the drawings. For example, the brim may extend aroundsubstantially the entire perimeter of the crown, and the crown maycomprise a single panel of material, or panels of material in aconfiguration different from that illustrated. Furthermore, thematerials of the glove portion and the extension portion may comprisematerials, or combinations thereof, other than those listed above. Inaddition, the location of the extension portion is not limited to thatillustrated and described. For example, the extension portion may belocated between the thumb accommodating portion and an index fingeraccommodating portion, or the cap may comprise a plurality of extensionportions between some or all of the finger accommodating portions.

The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention.It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed theforegoing appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways.As is also stated above, it should be noted that the use of particularterminology when describing certain features or aspects of the inventionshould not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-definedherein to be restricted to including any specific characteristics of thefeatures or aspects of the invention with which that terminology isassociated. The scope of the invention should therefore be construed inaccordance with the appended claims and any equivalents thereof.

1. A cap/glove combination, comprising: a concave crown said crownhaving an exterior surface comprising a plurality of crown panels, saidcrown having a top, a bottom, a front portion, a back portion, and twolateral portions; a brim fixed to said crown and extending from thefront portion of said crown; and a glove portion on said crown,comprising material affixed to said exterior surface of one of thelateral portions of said crown, said glove portion having at least onefacing toward the bottom of said one lateral portion of the crown, withsaid glove portion extending from said opening over said one lateralportion of the crown toward the top of the crown, wherein one of saidcrown panels has a dimension larger than other crown panels, and furthercomprises an extension portion of material proximate a thumbaccommodating portion of said glove portion, wherein said extensionportion of material is extended by engagement of the thumb accommodatingportion to expand the surface area of the crown.
 2. The cap/glovecombination of claim 1, further comprising padding on an interiorsurface of said crown proximate said glove portion.
 3. The cap/glovecombination of claim 1, wherein said glove portion comprises astretchable material.
 4. The cap/glove combination of claim 1, whereinsaid extension portion is folded in an unextended state when said gloveportion is not engaged by a hand.
 5. The cap/glove combination of claim1, further comprising an affixing mechanism attached to said extensionportion to maintain said extension portion in an unextended state whensaid affixing mechanism is engaged.
 6. The cap/glove combination ofclaim 5, wherein said affixing mechanism comprises a hook and loopfastener.
 7. The cap/glove combination of claim 1, further comprising anadditional glove portion opposite the first glove portion on said crown,comprising material affixed to the other lateral portion of said crownsaid additional glove portion having a hand entry opening for entry andaccommodation of a hand and finger exit openings for exit of the distalends of fingers, said hand entry opening facing toward the bottom ofsaid other lateral portion of the crown, with the additional gloveportion extending from said opening over said other lateral portion ofthe crown toward the top of the crown.
 8. The cap/glove combination ofclaim 1, wherein said glove portion comprises a semi-rigid materialproximate said opening and configured to maintain said opening in asubstantially open shape.
 9. A cap configured to accommodate a wearer'shand to facilitate catching a ball, the cap comprising: a concave crowncomprising an exterior surface, said crown having a top, a bottom, afront portion, a back portion, and two lateral portions; a brim affixedto said crown and extending from the front portion of said crown; and atleast one hand accommodating portion comprising one or more materialsfixed to said exterior surface of one of the lateral portions of saidcrown, wherein said hand accommodating portion permits entry of awearer's hand moving over said one of the lateral portions of said crownfrom the bottom of said one lateral portion toward the top of the crown,wherein said crown further comprises an extension portion of materialproximate a thumb accommodating portion of said hand accommodatingportion, wherein said extension portion of material is extended byengagement of said thumb accommodating portion.
 10. The cap of claim 9,wherein said at least one hand accommodating portion comprises a handentry opening for entry of a hand, and finger exit openings for exit ofthe distal ends of one or more fingers.
 11. The cap of claim 9, furthercomprising padding on an interior surface of said crown proximate saidhand accommodating portion.
 12. The cap of claim 9, wherein said handaccommodating portion comprises a semi-rigid material proximate a handentry opening so as to maintain said opening in a substantially openstate.
 13. The cap of claim 9, wherein said extension portion is foldedin an unextended state when said glove portion is not engaged by a hand.14. The cap of claim 9, further comprising an affixing mechanismattached to said extension portion to maintain said extension portion inan unextended state when said affixing mechanism is engaged.
 15. The capof claim 14, wherein said affixing mechanism comprises a hook and loopfastener.
 16. A cap/glove combination, comprising: a concave crownhaving an exterior surface, said crown having a top, a bottom, a frontportion, a back portion, and two lateral portions; a brim fixed to saidcrown and extending from the front portion of said crown; a first gloveportion on said crown, comprising material affixed to said exteriorsurface of one of the lateral portions of said crown, said first gloveportion having a hand entry opening for entry and accommodation of ahand and finger exit openings for exit of the distal ends of fingers,wherein the hand entry opening is substantially larger than the fingerexit openings, said hand entry opening facing toward the bottom of saidone lateral portion of the crown, with said glove portion extending fromsaid opening over said one lateral portion of the crown toward the topof the crown; and a second glove portion opposite the first gloveportion on said crown, comprising material affixed to the other lateralportion of said crown, said second glove portion having a hand entryopening for entry and accommodation of a hand and finger exit openingsfor exit of the distal ends of fingers, said hand entry opening facingtoward the bottom of said other lateral portion of the crown, with thesecond glove portion extending from said opening over said other lateralportion of the crown toward the top of the crown.